About us
Vestry School of Dance & Performing Arts was established in 1996 by Lyndsey Ward.
Welcome to Vestry School of Dance. Classes are held six days a week at various venues around Walthamstow and Chingford, East London. Ages range from 2 years old to Adults.
Classes are held in Classical Ballet, Tap and Modern, Contemporary/Creative Dance, Acrobatic Arts, Commercial Dance, Musical Theatre, Acting and Singing.
Awards/Exams are held annually and shows are performed every two years for Juniors and every year the Senior School.
Awards/Exams are held annually and shows are performed every two years for Juniors and every year the Senior School.
Teachers
All Teachers employed by the school are professionally trained at many of the countries leading colleges and are ex-professional dancers/performers with many years of experience in their relevant fields.
All teachers are DBS checked.
A first aid certified member of staff is on site at all times.
Our Teaching Staff 2024
Lyndsey Ward
Principal
Biography and Qualifications
Miss Lyndsey Ward; Principal: RAD RTS, AISTD DIP, AIDTA, Acrobatic Arts Certified, Registered member of Rambert Grades, Registered Chaperone Lyndsey trained at the Urdang Academy and London Studio Centre. She has taken vocational exams in all the major exams including: The Royal Academy, Cecchetti Ballet, Russian Ballet, IDTA Ballet, Modern, Tap and ISTD Modern and Tap before dancing professionally on both stage and TV. She was The West Midland Senior Ballet Champion and a finalist in Miss Dance of Great Britain. Lyndsey has been a practical teaching supervisor for the Royal Academy CBTS course and has mentored for their BADE practical placement. Lyndsey was Artistic Director of the Birmingham youth dance company for 20yrs She has taught as a freelance artist at many schools in Waltham Forest and was the specialist GCSE dance teacher at Trinity Catholic high school in Woodford for 10 yrs.
Miss Tracy Au
Teacher
Biography and Qualifications
RAD RTS, ARAD, RAD solo seal, Certified Level 3 PBT teacher, Silver Swan Licensees, Acrotix Certified, Registered member of Rambert Grades
Tracy began her Ballet training at the Jean M Wong School of Ballet in Hong Kong and was awarded a scholarship to study Ballet at the Zhejiang Vocational Academy of Art. Tracy was awarded the ‘Dame Margot Fonteyn Scholarship’ to train at the English National Ballet School. Tracy has danced with both the English National Ballet Company and the Hong Kong Ballet Company. Tracy has achieved the Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal Award, which is the highest Vocational Ballet examination. Tracy is an experienced RAD registered teacher, Silver Swan Licensee Teacher, Level 3 PBT Certified Teacher, and Acrotrix Certified.
Ethan Brookes
Teacher
Biography and Qualifications
Ethan started Ballet in local dance schools, when he was 16 years old he was given a full scholarship to train at The Royal Ballet Upper School and The English National Ballet School. Upon graduation, he joined the National Ballet of Ireland as a soloist and was promoted to principal dancer later with the company before joining English National Ballet. Ethan performed in many productions including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, and La apres midi d’un faune.
Miss Ruth Lynch
Teacher
Biography and Qualifications
Ruth started dancing at Vestry at the age of 3yrs. She took classes in all genres of Performing Arts and has taken exams up to Advanced and Grade 8 in RAD Ballet and ISTD Tap/Modern plus Musical Theatre and Drama LAMDA . Ruth completed her professional training at the MTA College. She has performed in 8 “Hackney Empire” Pantomimes as part of the Child’s and ADP ensemble and made her professional debut in 2022 as “Priscilla” the goose in “Mother Goose” at the Hackney Empire, she was been nominated for an OFFIES “Best Newcomer” award. Ruth is starring as “Spirit of the Ring” in the 2023 production of “Aladdin” at Hackney to rave reviews.
Becky Levett
Teacher
Biography and Qualifications
Becky has been dancing since the age of 4.
She trained at Wilkes Academy in Musical Theatre. 2015-2018.
Becky has competed in hip hop/ commercial troupes for competitions such as Star Power and KDC.
Her background covers all styles of dance and she has taken exams in ISTD, IDTA and RAD up to advanced 2.
Becky has worked for Warner Leisure as part of the production cast and then returning as dance captain and choreographer.
Sophie Whittle
Teacher
Biography and Qualifications
Sophie started her dance training at the age of 2 in Worthing, West Sussex where she enjoyed studying all aspects of theatre and performance. This love of performing won her a place at Rose Bruford College where she graduated in 2009 with a BA(Hons) in European Theatre Arts. Since graduating, Sophie has pursued various projects including attending the Edinburgh Fringe with Rory Bremner’s adaptation of Brecht’s ‘A Respectable Wedding’. She has appeared in panto as well as toured the UK with various musical theatre productions including Oliver and the Wizard of Oz. Sophie began her formal dance teacher training with Vestry School of Dance in 2013 becoming a teacher in 2014. Sophie also works full time for the London Ambulance service.
Marta Swierczynska
Teacher
Biography and Qualifications
MA in Contemporary Dance (EDGE) (2019 – 2020) – London Contemporary Dance School. Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, Leipzig, Germany (September 2021) – dancer in an improvised performance of spoken word. Secret Art Gallery, London (June 2021) – dancer and choreographer for a site-specific performance, exploring lack of touch during COVID-19 pandemic as part of a gallery exhibition. EDGE Dance Company (2019- 2020) triple bill, works by Alleyne Dance, Igor & Moreno, Riccardo Buscarini. Living Scapes (2020) by Emanuela Passadore, dance video. Joulie Fox – Don’t Be Shy (2020) dancer and choreographer, music video. Into the Labyrinth (2019) by Christopher Tudor. ArtsDepot. Akathistos (2019) by Sian Hopkins and Cantata Dramatica. Voices for Change, St Stephen Walbrook. Chilè – Rhythm of Joy (2018) dancer and choreographer, music video. Happiness and Joy (2016) Anna Watkins and Lisa Rowley.
Becky Hacet
Teacher
Biography and Qualifications
Becky has been dancing since the age of 3.
She trained at The Stella Mann Academy.
Gaining Vocational qualifications in Ballet, Tap and Modern upto Advanced 2 level.
She has teaching qualifications in all 3 genres.
Delycia Belgrave
Teacher currently on maternity leave
Biography and Qualifications
Delycia is a performer, choreographer and teacher from East London. She has been working professionally in the theatre industry for the past 10 years, enjoying performances within the UK, internationally and in the West End. Her credits include CHICAGO UK TOUR (Ensemble/1st Cover Mama Morton), DISNEY’S DISENCHANTED (Dancer/Cast), Choreography Workshop for the new MATILDA film, KNEEHIGH’S UBU (Lead singer), WHITE CHRISTMAS at the Dominion Theatre (Swing/Ensemble), ME AND MY GIRL Frinton-On-Sea (Ensemble), GUYS AND DOLLS at the Theatre Marigny in Paris (Ensemble), WHITE CHRISTMAS at the Curve Theatre in Leicester (Rita/Ensemble), LEGALLY BLONDE UK Tour (Pilar/1st Cover Enid/2nd Cover Brooke), LEGALLY BLONDE rehearsed at the Curve Theatre performed in Monaco (Kate/Chutney/Whitney), MAMMA MIA with Royal Caribbean Productions (Lisa/Ensemble). She is happy to be back at Vestry School of Dance and Performing Arts where it all began.Teaching has always been a huge passion and joy and Delycia enjoys sharing her experiences, inspiring and nurturing the goals and dreams of the next generation of performers.